Adaptive Behaviours and Autism

Adaptive behaviour is sometimes defined by the extent to which a person is capable of being self-sufficient in real-life situations, including the functional use of communication, socialisation, daily living and motor skills.

The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities defines adaptive behaviour as:

'... the collection of conceptional, social, and practical skills that are learned and performed by people in their everyday lives.

Conceptual skills- language and literacy; money, time, and number concepts; and self-direction.

Social skills- interpersonal skills, social responsibility, self-esteem, gullibility, naïvete (i.e., wariness), social problem solving, and the ability to follow rules/obey laws and to avoid being victimized.

Practical skills -activities of daily living (personal care), occupational skills, healthcare, travel/transportation, schedules/routines, safety, use of money, use of the telephone.'